Ethnic Differences in Self-Poisoning: A Comparison of Asian and White Groups

The characteristics of Asian patients admitted to a Birmingham hospital following deliberate self-poisoning were compared with those of British-born white self-poisoners. Asian patients were more likely to be young, female, and married. They were less likely to have previously self-poisoned, received previous psychiatric treatment, be diagnosed psychiatrically ill, or suffer from a personality disorder. The rate of self-poisoning was higher for Asian females than for white females.